Push-button control switch



June 9, 1964 J, MULLEN PUSH-BUTTON CONTROL SWITCH Filed July 6, 1960 I ll 4 R" 3 3 j NH 6 E U "H 7 mn m4 Q 2 %4 m 6 a? /O 2 3 3 f A w Cl ATTORNEY United States Patent ce Filed July 6, 196b, Scr. No. 41,082 6 Claims. (Cl. 200--) This invention relates generally to electric switches, and more particularly to push-button switches for conmasses Patented June 9, 1964 of the panel 11, thereby determining the angular position trolling electrical apparatus.

An objectof the invention is to provide an improved compactly constructed control switch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device embodying twoconcentrically disposed and relatively movable push-button actuating elements for operating a switch.

Other objects of the invention will be explained fully hereinafter or will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a single push-button assembly has two concentrically disposed push-button actuating members. The outer actuating member is tubular in construction and the inner actuating member is disposed within and movable relative to the outer member. The inner actuating member has a plate attached to its inner or lower end which is engageable with an operating member that is reciprocable to operate a movable contact element. Upon depression of the inner actuating member, its plate moves the operating member to operate the bridging contact element. The outer push-button actuating member has a plate attached to its inner or lower end which plate is disposed above the plate of the inner actuating member and is engageable with another operating member that is reciprocable to operate a second movable contact element. Upon depression of the outer push-button actuating element, its actuating plate which is attached thereto not only engages its associated operating member to move the said second movable contact element but it also engages and moves the inner plate, so that depression of the outer push-button actuating element effects operation of both of the bridging contact elements.

For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view, in section, taken substantially along the line I--I of FIG. 2 and illustrating a push-but- FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a control system utilizing the control switch shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a switch structure indicated generally at 1 comprises an actuating unit indicated generally at 2 and a switch unit indicated generally at 4. The actuating unit 2 includes a tubular supporting sleeve '6, preferably of a cast metal and having a flange 8 on the inner end thereof adapted to engage the inner side of a supporting panel 11. The flange 8 may have a positioning pin 10 secured thereto which is adapted to be received in a recess provided at a predetermined position on the inner side of the switch. A sealing disc 12 composed of any desirable sealing material, such as rubber, may be interposed between the flange 8 and the inner surface of the panel 11.

A portion of the sleeve 6 is threaded for receiving a clamping ring 14 which is adapted to secure the sleeve to the panel 11 when the clamping ring is drawn up tightly. A nameplate 16 having an extended portion at one side may be provided between the clamping ring 14 and the panel 11. The plate 16 may carry suitable indicia for proper identification of the switch and for indicating operative positions of the switch.

The supporting sleeve 6 of the switch actuating unit has a transversely extending web 18 having a central opening therein for slideably receiving a tubular portion of an actuating structure which structure is indicated generally at 20.

The actuating structure 20 includes an outer tubular shaped actuating member 21 and an inner actuating member 22 disposed within and movable relative to the outer member 21. A compression spring 23 is disposed between an upper cup-shaped push-button portion 24 of the tubular actuating member 21 and a retainer disc 25 which is seated on a gasket 26 that is disposed on a flange portion of the web 18. The spring 23 biases the actuating structure 20 outwardly. The outward movement of the actuating structure 20 is limited by an actuating plate or disc 2'7 which is secured to the lower or inner end or" the tubular outer actuating member 21. The actuating disc 27 has a notch 29 (FIG. 5) therein which receives a pin 30 (FIG. 2) whichmay be screwed into the web portion 18 of the supporting sleeve 6, to thereby prevent rotation of the actuating member 21.

An actuating disc 32 (FIG. 4-) is disposed at the lower or inner end of the actuating member 22, and it has a notch 33 therein which receives the pin 30 (FIG. 2) to thereby prevent rotational movement of the actuating member 22. The actuating disc 32 also has a notch .34 therein, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

The upper cup-shaped push-button portion 24 of the actuating member 21 has an opening 35 therein which receives a spring 36. The spring 36 is disposed between a Washer 37, which is seated on a gasket 39, and a pushbutton portion 38 of the inner actuating member 22, to bias the member 22 in an outward direction. The gaskets 39 and 26 make the switch oil tight so that the switch can be used for machine tool and other heavy duty applications.

The switch unit 4 is of the type specifically described in the patent to S. L. Frank, Patent No. 2,669,616, assigned to the assignee of the instant application. The switch unit 4 comprises a base 40, preferably of an insulating material which is suitable for molding. The base 40 is provided with opposed recessed projections 41 and 43 on two sides thereof, and it has, on the same sides, another pair of opposed projections 42. All of the projections 41, 42 and 43 are spaced apart so as to provide a recessed space 44 between the inner ends of the several projections.

The projection 41 has a recess 46 extending throughout the length of the projection and having an outer reduced portion forming an internal shoulder. The projection 43 has a recess 4'7 therein, the lower end of which is closed.

Two straight contact strips 54 and two similar contact strips 54 are disposed in suitable slots which are pro- 'vided at the inner sides of each projection 42 for receivingone edge ofeach of the contact strips, the opposite edge of each strip being received in a slot provided in one of the projections 43. Each of the contact strips 54 and 54' is provided with a contact 60 or 60'.

Two generally U-shaped contact strips 62 and two similar contact strips 62' are supported in suitable slots in the base 40. The U-shaped contact strips 62 and 62' each have one leg supporting a stationary contact 64- or 64', and the leg of each strip which does not hold the stationary contact 6 or 64, supports a terminal 66 or 66 for the purpose of securing a conductor thereto. Terminals as and 66' are also supported at the outer ends of the contact strips 54 and 54' respectively.

The switch unit includes two operating members 72 and '72, which are preferably molded from an insulating material, and which are disposed in the recesses 46 of the base projections 41. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the switch unit 4- includes two identical parts operated by the operating members '72 and 72' respectively. The part operated by the operating member 72 is specifically shown in FIG. 2 and will hereinafter be specifically described. It is to be understood, however, that unless otherwise described, the description applies to both parts of the switch unit 4.

Referring to FIG. 2, the operating member 72 has a shoulder portion 76 which is engageable with a shoulder adjacent the outer end of the recess 46 to limit the extent of outer movement of the operating member. A contact supporting strip 75 is secured to the inner end of the operating member 72'. A bridging contact member 78' is slideably mounted on the supporting strip 75. The bridging contact member 78 is provided with contacts 80, on opposite sides thereof, at each end of the bridging member for cooperation with the contacts 6t) 01": the contact strips 54 and the contacts d4 of the U- shaped contact strips 62'. The contact supporting strip 75 has a reduced extension 82 on which is slipped a spring supporting sleeve 84 also preferably composed of an insulating material. A coil compression spring 36 is disposed in the recess 47 of the base projection 4-3 to react between the closed end of the recess and the sleeve 84 to normally bias the operating member '72 upwardly to its outermost position (FIGS. 1 and 2) where the upper contacts 80' of the bridging contact member 78' engage the contacts 64' of the upper U-shaped contact strips 62. A coil compression spring 87, which is weak relative to the spring 36, is provided on the contact supporting strip '75, and it reacts between the operating member 72' and the bridging contact member '73 in a manner to be hereinafter described.

As seen in FIG. 2, the bridging contact member '78 is in the upper position engaging the contacts 64' of the U-shaped contact strips 62. When the operating member 72 is depressed, it moves the bridging contact member 78' and the contacts Sit, down against the bias of the spring 86, and away from the upper contacts 64, into engagement with the lower contacts 6% of the contact strips 54'. When the lower contacts 30' of the bridging contact member '78 engage the contacts as, the spring 87 will be compressed allowing for overtravel of the operating member 72. When the force against the operating member 72 is released, the spring 86 operates to return the operating member '72 and the bridging contact member 73' to the position shown in FIG. 2, in which position the upper contacts 80 of the bridging contact member 78' engage the contacts 64 of the contact strips 62'.

As was previously mentioned, the description and operation of the operating member '72 and its associated parts, which are identified without primed reference characters, is identical to the description and operation of the operating member 72 and its associated parts.

The operation of the actuating unit 2 of the switch 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1-6. When it is desired to operate only the operating member '72 (FIG. 1), only the push-button portion 38 of the actuating member 22 is depressed, whereupon the plate 32, at the inner end of the actuating member 22, engages the operating member 72' and depresses that member to operate the contact members 38 and 38'.

bridging contact member '78 in the same manner previously described. The stationary pin 3d (FIG. 2), which is positioned in the notch 33 (FIG. 4) in the plate 32, prevents rotational movement of the plate 32 which is so positioned that the notch 34 in the plate 32 will clear the operating member 72. Thus, depression of the actuating member 22 and plate 32 has no eiiect on the operating member 72 and its associated parts. The spring 36 is relatively Weak with respect to the spring 23. Therefore, when an operator presses on only the push-button portion 3? of the actuating member 22, only the member 22 and the operating member 72' will be depressed, the actuating member 21 and the operating member 72 remaining in the position in which they are shown in FIG. 1. When the push-button portion 38 of the actuating mem ber 22 is released, the springs 87, 86 and 36 will operate to return the parts to their normal position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

When the push-button portion 24 of the tubular actuating member 21 is depressed, the upper plate 27 engages the lower plate 32 and operates to force the plate 32 down with the plate 27. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the plate 27 also engages the operating member 72 so that upon depression of the actuating member 21, both of the operating members 72 and 72' will be depressed to operate both of the bridging contact members 78 and 78. Upon release of push-button portion 24, the springs 87, 86, 36 and 23 will operate to return the parts to their normal position shown in FIGS. land 2.

A diagrammatic view showing the control switch connected to operate a relay R is shown in FIG. 6. Lines L1 and L2 are connected across a suitable source of power. As can be seen, the bridging contact members 78 and 78' are both biased to their normal upper positions.

For this application, only the upper contacts 64 of the contact structure controlled by the operating member 72 are connected in the circuit, and only the bottom contacts 66' of the contact structure controlled by the operating member '72 are connected in the circuit. The bridging contact member 78, therefore, is biased upwardly to its normally closed position and the bridging contact member 78' is biased upwardly to its normally open position. As seen in FIG. 6, the circuit is open and the relay R is deenergized. The relay R may be of any suitable type for controlling the operation of a motor or other electrical device. I

In order to energize the relay R, the push-button 38 is depressed to depress only the bridging contact member 78' which operates to close a circuit from L1 through the contacts 64, a conductor 92, the contacts 6%) and the coil of the relay R to the line L2, thereby energizing the relay. The energized relay R picks up, closing the auxiliary contacts Ra to thereby close a holding circuit for the coil of the relay. Upon release by the operator, the pushbutton 38 returns to its normal position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6. Energization of the relay R is maintained through the holding circuit. When it is desired to deenergize the relay R, the push-button 24 is depressed moving the bridging contact member 7 8 down to open the contacts 54 to thereby open the holding circuit. For this particu lar application, when the operator presses the push-button 24, he need not be careful about whether he presses only the push-button 24 or both of the push-buttons 24 and 38, because in either case, both of the operating members '72 and 72' will be depressed to operate both of the bridging Faulty operation, however, will not occur, and the relay will not be energized when the push-button 24 is released after a deenergizing operation, because the contacts 69' will be opened by the bridging contact member 78' before the bridging contact member 78 closes the contacts 64.

Although the structure specifically shown and described herein relates to a unit wherein depression of the pushbutton 24 which controls the upper plate 27 effects depression of both of the plates 27 and 32 to thereby eilect operation of both of the operating members 72 and 72', it-

is to be understood that the plates 27 and 32, and the actuating members 21 and 22 could be constructed to eifect operation of only the operating member 72 when the push-button 24 is depressed and only the operating member 72 when the push-button 38 is depressed. Thus, each of the bridging contact members 78 and 78' could be operated independently of the other. a

The control switch can be used any place where pushbuttons are presently used, saving space in push-button stations and panels since both push-buttons of the actuating unit 2 occupy only onehalf the space required for a unit which embodies two push-buttons disposed side by side.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the invention provides an improved compactly constructed double-push-button switch unit which will occupy a minimum of space wherever it is mounted. The switch is relatively simple in construction and it may be readily installed on a panel or in any suitable housing.

Since numerous changes may be made in the abovedescribed construction and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. A

I claim:

1. A control switch comprising a switch actuating unit and a switch unit; said switch unit comprising two stationary contact structures, a separate movable contact member cooperable with each of said stationary contact structures, a separate operating member rectilinearly movable to operate each of said movable contact members; said actuating unit comprising two concentrically disposed and rectilinearly movable actuating members; means on'one of said actuating members operable upon rectilinear movement of said one actuating member to move only one of said operating members rectilinearly to thereby operatively move only one of said movable contact members; and means on the other of said actuating members operable upon rectilinear movement of said other actuating member to move both of said operating members rectilinearly to operatively move both of said movable contact members.

2. A control switch comprising a switch actuating unit and a switch unit; said switch unit comprising two stationary contact structures, a separate movable contact member cooperable with each of said stationary contact structures, a separate operating member rectilinearly movable to opperate each of said movable contact members; said actuating unit comprising a tubular actuating member supported for axial movement, a second actuating member disposed within said tubular actuating member and supported for axial movement; means on said second actuating member operable upon axial movement of said second actuating member to move only one of said operating members rectilinearly to thereby operatively move only one of said movable contact members; and means on said tubular actuating member operable upon axial movement of said tubular actuating member to move both of said operating members rectilinearly to operatively move both of said movable contact members.

3. A control switch comprising a switch actuating unit and a switch unit; said switch unit comprising two stationary contact structures, a separate movable contact member cooperable with each of said stationary contact structures, a separate switch operating member rectilinearly movable to operate each of said movable contact members; said actuating unit comprising a rectilinearly movable tubular shaped actuating member, a rectilinearly movable second actuating member disposed within said tubular shaped actuating member, an actuating plate supported on said second actuating member and having opening means therein; upon rectilinear operative movement of said second actuating member said actuating plate bypassing part of one of said switch operating members at said opening means and engaging the other of said switch operating members to rectilinearly move the other of said switch operating members to operatively move one of said movable contact members; and means on said tubular shaped actuating member operable upon rectilinear movement of said tubular shaped actuating member to operatively move at least said one of said switch operating members.

4. A control switch comprisinga switch actuating unit and a switch unit; said switch unit comprising two stationary contact structures, a separate movable contact member cooperable with each of said stationary contact structures, a separate operating member rectilinearly movable to operate each of said movable contact members; said actuating unit comprising a tubular shaped actuating member supported for axial movement, a first actuating plate supported on said tubular shaped actuating member, a second actuating member disposed generally within said tubular shaped actuating member and supported for axial movement, a second actuating plate supported on said second actuating member, said second actuating plate having opening means therein; upon axial operative movement of only said second actuating member said second actuating plate by-passing a part of one of said operating members at said opening means and engaging the other of said operating members to rectilinearly move said other operating member to operatively move only one of said movable contact members; and upon axial operative movement of said tubular shaped actuating member said first actuating plate engaging said one operating member to rectilinearly move said one operating member to operatively move the other of said movable contact members.

5. A control switch comprising a switch actuating unit and a switch unit; said switch unit comprising two stationary contact structures, a separate movable contact member cooperable with each of said stationary contact structures, a separate switch operating member rectilinearly movable to operate each of said movable contact members; said actuating unit comprising a tubular shaped actuating member supported for axial movement, a second actuating member disposed within said tubular shaped actuating member and supported for axial movement, an actuating plate supported on said second actuating member, said actuating plate having opening means therein;

upon axial operative movement of said second actuating member said actuating plate by-passing part of one of said switch operating members at said opening means and engaging the other of said switch operating members to move said other switch operating member to operatively move one of said movable contact members; and means on said tubular shaped actuating member operable upon axial operative movement of said tubular shaped actuating member to move said one switch operating member and also to simultaneously move said actuating plate to move said other switch operating member whereby said operative movement of said tubular shaped actuating member operatively moves both of said movable contact members.

6. A control switch comprising a switch actuating unit and a switch unit; said switch unit comprising two stationary contact structures, a separate movable contact member cooperable with each of said stationary contact structures, a separate operating member rectilinearly movable to operate each of said movable contact members; said actuating unit comprising an axially movable tubular shaped actuating member, a first actuating plate supported on said tubular shaped actuating member, an axially movable second actuating member disposed within said tubular shaped actuating member, a second actuating plate supported on said second actuating member, said second actuating plate having opening means therein; upon axial operative movement of only said second actuating member, said second actuating plate by-passing part of one of said '1 operating members at said opening means and engaging the other of said operating members to rectilinearly move said other operating member to operatively move one of said movable contact members; upon axial operative movement of said tubular shaped actuating member, said first actuating plate engaging said second actuating plate to move said second actuating plate to thereby operatively move said other operating member and said first actuating plate engaging said one operating member to operatively move said one operating member whereby said axial operative movement of said tubular shaped actuating memher operatively moves both of said movable contact'menibers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,776,348 orry Ian. 1, 1957 2,918,554 Brauneck Dec. 22, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 497,593 Italy ept. 15, 1954 306,168 Switzerland Mar. 31, 1955 

1. A CONTROL SWITCH COMPRISING A SWITCH ACTUATING UNIT AND A SWITCH UNIT; SAID SWITCH UNIT COMPRISING TWO STATIONARY CONTACT STRUCTURES, A SEPERATE MOVABLE CONTACT MEMBER COOPERABLE WITH EACH OF SAID STATIONARY CONTACT STRUCTURES, A SEPARATE OPERATING MEMBER RECTILINEARLY MOVABLE TO OPERATE EACH OF SAID MOVABLE CONTACT MEMBERS; SAID ACTUATING UNIT COMPRISING TWO CONCENTRICALLY DISPOSED AND RECTILINEARLY MOVABLE ACTUATING MEMBERS; MEANS ON ONE OF SAID ACTUATING MEMBERS OPERABLE UPON RECTILINEAR MOVEMENT OF SAID ONE ACTUATING MEMBER TO MOVE ONLY ONE OF SAID OPERATING MEMBERS RECTILINEARLY TO THEREBY OPERATIVELY MOVE ONLY ONE OF SAID MOVABLE CONTACT MEMBERS; AND MEANS ON THE OTHER OF SAID ACTUATING MEMBERS OPERABLE UPON RECTILINEAR MOVEMENT OF SAID OTHER ACTUATING MEMBER TO MOVE BOTH OF SAID OPERATING MEMBERS RECTILINEARLY TO OPERATIVELY MOVE BOTH OF SAID MOVABLE CONTACT MEMBERS. 